Kavanaugh Expected to Win Supreme Court Confirmation on Saturday

Controversial U.S. Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanugh appears poised to win Senate confirmation Saturday to the nation's highest court after a bruising battle that erupted after a woman accused him of attempted date rape when both were in high school in 1982.

Kavanaugh's confirmation, which requires the backing of at least 50 senators plus Vice President Mike Pence casting a tie-breaking vote, became likely after two undecided senators announced plans Friday to support his appointment. Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) said she would vote yes, detailing why in an emotional 43-minute speech. Shortly thereafter, Sen. Joe Manchin -- a West Virginia Democrat facing re-election in a state that went for President Donald Trump in a landslide in 2016 -- announced plans to cross party lines and back Kavanaugh as well.

Collins used her speech Friday to decry the confirmation process for being hyper-partisan, while also casting doubts on the claims of sexual assault that have been levied against Kavanaugh in recent weeks.

The Maine senator also pointed to Kavanaugh's judicial record to suggest that he would not vote to dismantle the Affordable Care Act, as opponents on the left have feared, and even suggested that he is likely to uphold Roe v. Wade, the judicial precedent that legalizes abortion.

The U.S. Senate voted Friday morning to advance Kavanaugh's Supreme Court nomination process to the next, and final step. A vote on his nomination is expected to occur within the next 30 hours based on Senate rules.

The FBI concluded its investigation earlier this week. Senate Democrats criticized the investigation, saying that the scope of the inquiry was too narrow.

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